Yeah well, the Salvadorans were never ordered to vote either. Just told that there would be consequences for not voting--or at least getting their papers stamped by the polling stations.

So let's see. There is a visible mark being made on the hands of each and every voter in Iraq. Each polling place is being guarded--literally--by US and Iraqi occupation forces. Guns, choppers, tanks, the whole shootin' match (pardon the pun).

Allawi, the interim prime minister "asked" and "urged" and "pleaded" with Iraqis to vote (depending upon your news source).

Reuters points out that:

"The Iraqi interim government imposed extraordinary security restrictions to try to safeguard the polls, closing land borders and banning travel between provinces banned. An extended curfew was imposed in most cities from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m."